Curriculum

Education of four-year-old children follows a curriculum “I Discover Myself” written by Jolanta Faliszewska and Wieslawa Żaba-Żabińska. It is based on the theory of multiple intelligences by Howard Gardner. According to the authors, the overall aim of preschool education is to support the development through active participation in organised educational activities, which contribute to active acquiring of experiences and to allow children to grow according to their individual programme, (pace, needs, preferences, type of intelligence etc.) and well as enhancingcreative thinking, which supports perceiving, interpreting and shaping the surrounding world.

To teach five- and six-year-olds, we follow a curriculum called “Our Preschool. Preschool education programme supporting the development of children’s activities” by Małgorzata Kwaśniewska and Wiesława Żaba-Żabińska. The curriculum, adopted to the core preschool curriculum and in accordance with the requirements of Polish Ministry of Education, promotes children’s activity to develop their social, language and cognitive skills. It focuses on arts, sports and health issues as well.

Language education

We believe that when it comes to foreign languages, the essential issue is regularity, that is why our preschoolers have English classes every day. We apply the method of natural acquisition — we have classes in Polish and English simultaneously in all groups of children (2-6 year old). Our objective is to prepare kids for further education of English in later stages of education.

Four hours a week are theme-oriented activities, e.g. logical team games. Once a week, there is a class with a native speaker who plays different games to practice children’s language skills. In our preschool we also teach how to read and write, applying the well-recognized method called “glottodidactics”. It was created by Polish professor, linguist Bronisław Rocławski.

Moreover, at parents’ request we also teach other foreign languages, among others:

German,

French,

Spanish,

Chinese.

Maths education

We apply a programme called “Children’s Mathematics” to introduce young learners to the world of math.

The basic idea of the programme is to support the process of learning through personal experience thanks to which children create concepts and acquire skills. Tasks tailored to children’s needs teach them to think and strengthen their emotional resilience.

While playing games and performing everyday tasks, children learn, among others:

spatial orientation, measuring length and weight,

counting — starting with objects, through finger counting, up to calculations in mind,

writing down mathematical calculations (digits, symbols),

solving problems.

Nature education

The overall objective of nature classes is to introduce children to the world of nature. We want to showthem what role people play in ecosystem and to teach how to take care of animals and plants.

The nature workshops arouse cognitive needs, draw attention to the surrounding world and teach to admire the beauty of nature.

Our teachers undertake many interesting tasks to make children interested in the world of nature and inspire them to investigate it on their own. The activities we offer include:

walks and trips to observe natural phenomena,

experiments using e.g. a magnifying glass, a magnet, a microscope or other equipment,

“nature corners” in classrooms and basic gardening,

gathering different artefacts,

environmental awareness.

Arts education

We offer a wide choice of arts workshops (art, ceramics, crafts, ballet, dancing) hoping that all preschoolers will find their passion.

We want to develop their individual talents. We teach children how to show emotions through arts, how to invigorate their imagination. We want to shape children’s creativity and manual skills. We want them to get interested in arts by acquainting them with various media through which one can express oneself..

Our preschool often organizes visits to places of culture e.g. to the theatre. Children perform in plays and give concerts themselves. Performances teach them how to control stage fright and present themselves to the public.

In our preschool there are special creativity corners. We also provide children with all necessary materials and tools to express their artistic ideas.

Health education

We aim to educate children on the issue of health — their own and others — and to promote healthy lifestyle.

To put the theory into practice our preschoolers participate in:

games and plays in the open air,

sports activities (gymnastics, dancing, ballet),

workshops dedicated to illnesses and methods of their prevention, and devoted to observing standards and good habits related with eating and hygiene.

In our preschool we support proper development of children’s speech. Speech therapy classes are correlated with the language curriculum and complement it.

Through attractive games we shape proper speech habits. An individual approach to every child makes it possible to diagnose their particular problems and choose the most suitable exercises. During speech therapy classes the following exercises are performed:

breathing exercises,

speech organs exercises (tongue, lips, soft palate),

hearing exercises,

articulation exercises,

rhythmic speech exercises

Program “Zippy’s Friends”

It is a multicultural programme created by doctors, teachers and psychologists to help young children develop social skills.

The programme aims to developsocial skills in children and teaches them how to be assertive. It also teaches how to cope with difficulties. It teaches tolerance and encourages children to respect and help other people.

The aim of “Zippy’s Friends” is to bring up sensitive happy children ready to support others. We use the programme in groups of five-year-olds.

English preschool

Our preschool is English-speaking. Everyday, children have 5 hours of activities with a native speaker — thus applying the method of natural immersion.

In our modern multimedia room children have a regular English classes, using ”My Little Island” books. After the lesson, the native speaker participates in all the activities of everyday preschool life. Native speakers are also to introduce children to the culture of English-speaking countries. They learn about Halloween, Christmas or Saint Patrick’s Day. Siesta after lunch is time for reading in English. The Magnolia Library has many books from “Penguin Kids” series. During the afternoon playtime children enjoy English games and plays.

A Polish teacher is present all the time during activities run by the native speaker. Her role is to assist the native speaker and help in translating new phrases. At the end of the week, native speakers write e-mails to parents, summing up what material was covered at preschool. They encourage families to practice English also at home during weekend.